‘I wouldn’t let Faulkner off the hook quite that easily,’ she said. ‘He still has to explain away the twelve grams of cocaine that the police found in his home, and even if he could convince the jury that he didn’t know how it got there, he won’t find it easy to account for the twenty-pound note, which William’s convinced is the one question he won’t be able to answer.’
‘I agree with William. But we’ll still need Faulkner to give evidence before we can raise the subject of the twenty-pound note. If I was representing him, I’d advise him strongly against going anywhere near the witness box. That will leave us with the task of having to prove him guilty beyond reasonable doubt, which will be all but impossible after Heath’s evidence this morning.’
‘Then we’ll have to try and appeal to Faulkner’s vanity,’ said Grace, ‘and make it impossible for him to resist taking us on.’
‘And how do you propose to do that?’ asked Sir Julian.
‘By replacing the opening batsman,’ said Grace, as the phone on his desk began to ring.
He picked it up and listened to the caller for some time before he said, ‘Yes, I can see how that changes the situation, Desmond. Thank you for keeping me informed.’
‘What changes the situation?’ asked Grace, after he’d put the phone down.
‘Adrian Heath’s dead.’
‘The other side have made us an offer,’ said Booth Watson.
‘After Heath’s evidence this morning, that’s hardly surprising,’ said Faulkner. ‘But you may as well tell me what it is before I dismiss the offer out of hand.’
‘They’ll drop the charge of intent to supply, if you’ll plead guilty to possession.’
‘What will the damage be?’
‘A million-pound fine, and a two-year suspended sentence.’
‘That might be tempting if I didn’t think the jury is going to find me not guilty on both charges.’
‘Possibly,’ said Booth Watson, ‘but why take the risk?’
‘Because the odds are now heavily stacked in my favour, so you can tell Sir Julian Warwick QC to get lost.’
‘I’d advise against that, Miles, especially as I won’t be putting you on the stand.’
‘Why not? I’ve got nothing to hide.’
‘Except twelve grams of cocaine.’
‘Which you can tell them Lamont planted.’
‘You know that’s not going to wash, and the jury won’t fall for it either. Lamont is a long-serving police officer with an unblemished record, and in my experience, juries tend to like the plain-speaking Scotsman, which is why I don’t intend to cross-examine him.’
‘But you will after you’ve read this,’ said Faulkner, handing his silk a thick brown envelope.
Booth Watson took his time reading its contents before asking, ‘How did you get hold of this?’
‘It’s all a matter of public record,’ said Faulkner, ‘if you know where to look.’
‘Am I to understand, Sir Julian, that you wish to make a statement on behalf of the Crown?’ enquired Mr Justice Baverstock.
‘That is correct, m’lud. With your permission, the Crown will be dropping the first charge on the indictment, namely intent to supply. However, we still intend to proceed with the second charge, that of possession of a controlled substance, namely twelve grams of cocaine.’
The judge raised an eyebrow, as he had been privy to the advice the DPP had given Sir Julian to drop both charges and beat an expeditious retreat. He was surprised that such a normally cautious man would ignore such sage opinion.
‘So be it, Sir Julian. Then you may call your next witness.’
‘I call Detective Superintendent Lamont.’
The first thing William did on arriving back at the Yard later that evening, was to ask the commander if there was any news about Paul.
‘It’s not good, I’m afraid,’ said Hawksby. ‘He had a collision with another motorbike on his way back from the airport, and both of them ended up in hospital.’ William looked anxious. ‘But Paul got off pretty lightly, just a few cuts and bruises, and he should be discharged in a couple of days. Tulip unfortunately broke a leg, and won’t be leaving the hospital for some time.’ The flicker of a smile appeared on the commander’s face.
‘Has he been arrested for Heath’s murder?’
‘Yes. The murder squad took care of that, and they’ll post a guard outside his room night and day.’
‘Then I’ll complete my report, and leave it on Superintendent Lamont’s desk before I leave tonight.’
‘Good,’ said the Hawk. ‘Bruce was sorry that he couldn’t help you out, but at short notice he was asked to give evidence at Faulkner’s trial.’
‘How did he get on?’
‘Couldn’t have done better. In fact, I’d be surprised if Booth Watson bothers to cross-examine him in the morning. It will only give him yet another chance to repeat the question, if Faulkner didn’t put those drugs in the statue, who did?’
‘Did the Crown raise the subject of the twenty-pound note?’
‘No. I have a feeling they’re saving that bombshell for when Sir Julian cross-examines Faulkner.’
‘That’s assuming he gets the chance,’ said William. ‘If Faulkner doesn’t go into the witness box, my father won’t be allowed to present it as new evidence.’
‘Strange,’ said the Hawk. ‘It’s so unlike Sir Julian to take such a risk.’
‘But it’s not unlike his daughter,’ said William.
‘Then let’s hope they don’t both live to regret it.’
William unlocked the door, hoping that a quiet evening at home with his wife would help put the image of Adrian Heath’s dead body out of his mind. But when he stepped into the hall, he was greeted by a tearful, pregnant Beth, who threw her arms around him and clung on tightly.
‘Now I know what Josephine Hawksby meant when she told me the thing she most dreaded was the day when her husband didn’t come home.’
‘It wasn’t that bad,’ said William, trying to reassure her.
‘But to see your friend butchered in that way, and you helpless to do anything about it.’
‘How did you find out?’ asked William.
‘The story’s been leading the news programmes all evening, and Jackie rang
